High voltage phasing detector

Abstract: A detector for determining the phase of high AC voltages comprises two inputs IN1, IN2 for connecting to respective probes PR1, PR2 for contacting the conductors to be tested, a rectifier circuit to which the inputs are connected, a chain of capacitors C1-C6 arranged to be charged in series from the output of the rectifier circuit, an operational amplifier IC1 configured as a trip amplifier for providing an output signal when the output voltage of the rectifier exceeds a predetermined value, and a transistor TR1 for discharging the capacitors C1-C6 in parallel through a buzzer and a chain of LEDS 1-3 when the output signal is provided.

Description: This invention relates to a high voltage phasing detector, namely an instrument to determine whether the voltages on two conductors are in phase. Such instruments are used, for example, to check phasing across switchgear and bus-bars after maintenance. Instruments are known which comprise two resistors contained in insulating rods: one end of each rod has a contact probe, for contact with the conductors to be tested. The other ends of the rods are connected together via an insulated conductor and a detector, either in the form of an analog meter or an indicator such as a neon or light emitting diode. If the two conductors which the two probes contact are in phase, then no current flows and the detector reads zero (if it is an analog meter), or does not illuminate (if it is a neon or LED). However, if the two conductors are out of phase, the detector will give a reading (if it is an analog meter) or it will illuminate (if it is a neon or LED). FR-A-2,498,333 discloses a detector having two inputs for connection to respective probes for contacting a pair of conductors to be tested, a rectifier circuit to which said inputs are connected, threshold means for providing an output signal when the output voltage of said rectifier circuit exceeds a predetermined value, and indicator means responsive to said output signal. Under new standards to be introduced, a current of only 0.75mA is available when the two conductors under test are out of phase. This current is sufficient to illuminate neons, but generally neons give poor illumination and are not particularly reliable. Light emitting diodes give good illumination, but require a relatively high current, typically 10mA. Neither neons nor LED's have a precise switching point. It is possible to include a battery-driven arrangement in the instrument to provide a precise switching point, but this has the disadvantage that the battery must be replaced when discharged and further a circuit is required to detect when the battery is discharged. We have now devised a high voltage phasing detector which overcomes these difficulties. In accordance with this invention, there is provided a detector having to inputs for connection to respective probes for contacting a pair of conductors to be tested, a rectifier circuit to which said inputs are connected, threshold means for providing an output signal when the output voltage of said rectifier circuit exceeds a predetermined value, and indicator means responsive to said output signal, the detector being characterised in that a plurality of capacitors are arranged to be charged in series from the output of said rectifier circuit and in that means are provided for discharging said capacitors in parallel through said indicator means when said output signal is provided. The indicator means may comprise a light emitting device (e.g. one or more LED's) and/or a sound emitting device. It will be appreciated that the charge and discharge arrangement of the capacitors effectively provides a DC step-down transformer, having a high voltage, low current input and providing a low voltage, high current output suitable for energising an indicator device. DE-A-2,064,286 discloses a step-down voltage converter having a plurality of capacitors arranged to be charged in series and discharged in parallel. Preferably the capacitors are charged and discharged alternately. For example, the detector may include an oscillator which is enabled when the rectifier output exceeds its predetermined value, to alternately open and close a switch (preferably a FET) in a discharge path through the indicator means. Preferably in response to said output signal ceasing (in consequence of the input voltage to the detector falling below a given level), a further switch is turned on to open the main discharge switch immediately. Preferably a supply voltage is derived from the rectifier output, for an electronic circuit, which includes e.g. the threshold means and the oscillator. The threshold means preferably comprises an operational amplifier configured as a trip amplifier, the trip point of which is preferably adjustable. The input for the threshold means is preferably developed across a resistor connected in series with the capacitors across the rectifier circuit, and is therefore proportional to the voltage between the inputs of the detector. The supply voltage is preferably developed across a zener diode connected in series with the capacitors across the rectifier circuit. Preferably a first set of diodes are connected in series with the capacitors, a said diode being connected between each pair of capacitors. Preferably a second set of diodes is connected between one side of respective said capacitors and one end of a discharge path, and a third set of diodes is connected between the opposite side of respective said capacitors and the other end of the discharge path. The first set of diodes are poled to provide a series charging path through the capacitors, from the output of the rectifier circuit. The second and third set of diodes are poled to provide a parallel connection of the capacitors across the discharge path. An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a circuit diagram of a high voltage phasing detector in accordance with this invention. Referring to the drawing, there is shown a detector having two inputs IN1, IN2 connected or connectable to resistors R1, R2 which are contained in insulating rods. At their opposite end the rods are provided with probes PR1, PR2 for contacting the conductors to be tested. The detector includes a rectifier bridge across which the two inputs of the detector are connected, the rectifier bridge comprising diodes D1 to D4. The detector further comprises a chain of capacitors C1 to C6 and diodes D5 to D9 connected in series with a zener diode ZD1 and a resistor R3 across the output of the rectifier bridge. A regulated supply is taken from across the zener diode, for an electronic circuit which includes integrated circuits IC1 and IC2. The rectified output of the bridge charges the capacitors C1 to C6 and provides a voltage across resistor R3, proportional to the input voltage. Capacitors C7 and C8 are connected across the zener diode ZD1 and the resistor R3 to provide decoupling. A voltage dependent resistor VDR1 is connected in parallel with the series chain of capacitors C1 to C6 and diodes D5 to D9, to limit the voltage across these capacitors. A gas discharge tube GDT is connected across the input to the rectifier bridge to provide suppression against the effects of sparking. IC1 is a low power operational amplifier which, together with resistors R4, P1, R5, R6 and R8, acts as a trip amplifier, the output of which goes high when the voltage across the two probes PR1, PR2 exceeds a predetermined level, adjusted at P1: typically this will be set to either 3.3kV or 9.9kV. Two NAND gate of IC2 are interconnected with resistors R9 and R10 and a capacitor C9 to form a multivibrator, which is enabled when the output of trip amplifier IC1 goes high. The multivibrator then oscillates at e.g. 1Hz with p.g. unity mark-space ratio. The output of the multivibrator is coupled by a capacitor C10 to the gate of a MOS-FET TR1 which is connected in series with indicator LED's 1 to 3 and a buzzer across the capacitor/diode chain C1 to C6/D5 to D9. Accordingly, when the multivibrator starts oscillating, the MOS-FET TR1 is switched on and off in synchronism with it. A series circuit R12, D16 and parallel resistor R13 are connected between the gate and drain of MOS-FET TR1 to provide a fast discharge path. Diodes D10 to D15 are connected between the cathodes of respective diodes D5 to D9 and one end of the LED/MOS-FET series circuit. Diodes D16 to D20 are connected between the anodes of diodes D5 to D9 and the other end of the LED/MOS-FET series circuit. Accordingly, each time MOS-FET TR1 switches on, the capacitors C1 to C6 discharge, via diodes D10 to D20, through LED's 1 to 3 and the buzzer. It will be appreciated that the capacitors C1 to C6 are charged in series whilst MOS-FET TR1 is off (and typically to a voltage of 90 volts across the chain), and then for discharge when TR1 is on, the capacitors C1 to C6 are effectively connected in parallel (applying a discharge voltage of 15 volts across the LED/MOS-FET circuit). Each time MOS-FET TR1 switches off, the capacitors C1 to C6 charge through diodes D5 to D9, diodes D10 to D20 being either reversed biassed or blocked by the non-conducting MOS-FET TR1. By charging the capacitors C1 to C6 in series and discharging them in parallel, the arrangement acts as a DC step-down transformer, with an input of typically 90 volts at 0.75mA and an output of 15 volts at 4.5mA. A third NAND gate of IC2 is connected between the output of the trip amplifier IC1 and the base of a transistor TR2, which has its collector connected to the gate of MOS-FET TR1 and its emitter connected via resistor R11 to the ground rail of the regulated supply. When the output of trip amplifier IC2 goes low, the transistor TR2 is switched on and so switches off MOS-FET TR1. This circuit therefore ensures that the LED's 1 to 3 and the buzzer are switched off immediately that the input voltage to the instrument drops below the preset threshold (of typically 3.3kV or 9.9kV).

Claims: A detector having two inputs (IN1,IN2) for connection to respective probes (PR1,PR2) for contacting a pair of conductors to be tested, a rectifier circuit (D1 to D4) to which said inputs (IN1,1N2) are connected, threshold means (IC1) for providing an output signal when the output voltage of said rectifier circuit (D1 to D4) exceeds a predetermined value, and indicator means (LED1 to LED3, BUZZER) responsive to said output signal, the detector being characterised in that a plurality of capacitors (C1 to C6) are arranged to be charged in series from the output of said rectifier circuit (D1 to D4) and in that means are provided for discharging said capacitors (C1 to C6) in parallel through said indicator means (LED1 to LED3, BUZZER) when said output signal is provided. A detector as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the indicator means comprises a light emitting device (LED1,LED3) and/or a sound emitting device (BUZZER). A detector as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the capacitors (C1 to C6) are charged and discharged alternately. A detector as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said discharging means for the capacitors (C1 to C6) comprises a switch (TR1) provided in a discharge path which extends through the indicator means (LED1 to LED3, BUZZER) and in that said capacitors (C1 to C6) are charged and discharged alternately by opening and closing said switch (TR1), the switch (TR1) being actuated by an oscillator (IC2) which is enabled when the output of the rectifier circuit (D1 to D4) exceeds its said predetermined value. A detector as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that a further switch (TR2) is turned on to open the discharge switch (TR1) when the output signal ceases. A detector as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the threshold means comprises an operational amplifier (IC1) configured as a trip amplifier. A detector as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the input for the threshold means (IC1) is developed across a resistor (R3) connected in series with the capacitors (C1 to C6) across the rectifier circuit (D1 to D4). A detector as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the supply voltage is developed across a zener diode (ZD1) connected in series with the capacitors (C1 to C6) across the rectifier circuit (D1 to D4). A detector as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that a first set of diodes (D5 to D9) are connected in series with the capacitors (C1 to C6), a said diode of said first set being connected between each pair of capacitors. A detector as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that a second set of diodes (D10 to D15) are connected between one side of respective said capacitors (C1 to C6) and one end of a discharge path, and a third set of diodes (D16 to D20) are connected between the opposite side of respective said capacitors (C1 to C6) and the other end of the discharge path.

Inventors: BINNIE ALEXANDER JOSEPH DR, BINNIE, ALEXANDER JOSEPH DR.
Applicants: EDGCUMBE INSTR LIMITED, EDGCUMBE INSTRUMENTS LIMITED
Application year: 1994
Main classification: G01R19
IPC codes: G01R19